The 2025 Gotham Film Awards delivered an electric, unforgettable night — one that blended artistic triumph with political urgency. While Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another claimed the ceremony’s top honor for Best Feature, the evening ultimately belonged to Jafar Panahi, who stunned the crowd with a rare triple win just hours after being sentenced to prison by Iranian authorities.
The ceremony, hosted in New York, became a rare meeting point of industry politics, filmmaking excellence, and deeply personal artistic expression.
Jafar Panahi’s Defiant Sweep Becomes the Heart of the Night
Hollywood heard the news early: Iranian authorities had sentenced Panahi in absentia to a year in prison. By evening, the filmmaker arrived at the Gotham Awards to a standing ovation — and then proceeded to win every category he was nominated for.
His film It Was Just an Accident won:
- Best Original Screenplay
- Best International Feature
- Best Director
Accepting his first award of the night, Panahi dedicated it to filmmakers who work “in silence, without support,” and often risk their lives for truth and art. His speeches — emotional, humble, and stirring — became the emotional backbone of the ceremony.
Paul Thomas Anderson Wins Best Feature
While Panahi dominated the artistic categories, Paul Thomas Anderson took home the night’s most prestigious award — Best Feature — for One Battle After Another. It was the film’s only win despite a record-setting six nominations.
The win stood tall within a newly expanded category that featured ten nominees for the first time, signaling a broader recognition of independent filmmaking across studios, streamers, and global producers.
🏆 GOTHAM AWARDS 2025 — WINNERS & NOMINEES LIST
(Presented PopcornRealm style: clean, organized, readable)
BEST FEATURE
WINNER: One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson, Sara Murphy, Adam Somner (Warner Bros. Pictures)
NOMINEES:
- Bugonia
- East of Wall
- Familiar Touch
- Hamnet
- If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
- Lurker
- Sorry, Baby
- The Testament of Ann Lee
- Train Dreams
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
WINNER: It Was Just an Accident – Philippe Martin, Jafar Panahi (Neon)
NOMINEES:
- No Other Choice – Park Chan-wook
- Nouvelle Vague
- Resurrection
- Sound of Falling
BEST DIRECTOR
WINNER: Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident
NOMINEES:
- Mary Bronstein – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
- Kelly Reichardt – The Mastermind
- Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
- Oliver Laxe – Sirât
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
WINNER: It Was Just an Accident – Jafar Panahi
NOMINEES:
- If I Had Legs I’d Kick You – Mary Bronstein
- The Secret Agent – Kleber Mendonça Filho
- Sorry, Baby – Eva Victor
- Sound of Falling – Louise Peter, Mascha Schilinski
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
WINNER: Pillion – Harry Lighton (A24)
NOMINEES:
- No Other Choice – Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-Mi, Jahye Lee, Don McKellar
- One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson
- Preparation for the Next Life
- Train Dreams
OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE
WINNER: Sopé Dìrísù – My Father’s Shadow
NOMINEES:
Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Lee Byung-hun (No Other Choice)
Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You)
Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon)
Jennifer Lawrence (Die My Love)
Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent)
Josh O’Connor (The Mastermind)
Amanda Seyfried (The Testament of Ann Lee)
Tessa Thompson (Hedda)
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
WINNER: Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
NOMINEES:
Benicio Del Toro (One Battle After Another)
Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein)
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value)
Indya Moore (Father Mother Sister Brother)
Adam Sandler (Jay Kelly)
Andrew Scott (Blue Moon)
Alexander Skarsgård (Pillion)
Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value)
Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another)
BREAKTHROUGH DIRECTOR
WINNER: Akinola Davies Jr. – My Father’s Shadow
NOMINEES:
Constance Tsang (Blue Sun Palace)
Carson Lund (Eephus)
Sarah Friedland (Familiar Touch)
Harris Dickinson (Urchin)
BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMER
WINNER: Abou Sangaré – Souleymane’s Story
NOMINEES:
A$AP Rocky – Highest 2 Lowest
Sebiye Behtiyar – Preparation for the Next Life
Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another
Tonatiuh – Kiss of the Spider Woman
The Tributes: Big Stars, Big Moments
The ceremony also highlighted influential voices through special tributes:
🎬 Director Tribute — Noah Baumbach
Presented by Emily Mortimer & Adam Sandler, filled with sharp jokes and heartfelt admiration.
🎥 Ensemble Tribute — Sinners Cast
Honored by Ryan Coogler; Michael B. Jordan, Jayme Lawson & Delroy Lindo accepted.
🎭 Spotlight Tribute — Tessa Thompson for Hedda
Presented by Nia DaCosta, celebrating their decade-long creative friendship.
🧟♂️ Vanguard Tribute — Guillermo del Toro, Oscar Isaac & Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein
del Toro dropped the night’s boldest line: “Made for humans, by humans… and fuck AI.”
🎶 Musical Tribute — Kate Hudson & Hugh Jackman for Song Sung Blue
🌟 Visionary Tribute — Julia Roberts & Luca Guadagnino for After the Hunt
🎸 Cultural Icon Tribute — Jeremy Allen White & Scott Cooper for Deliver Me From Nowhere
Final Words
The 2025 Gotham Film Awards delivered more than trophies — it delivered a story. Paul Thomas Anderson walked away with the year’s top film recognition, but Jafar Panahi carried the night’s heart, transforming the ceremony into a statement about art, resistance, and the unbreakable voice of cinema.
A night of winners, yes — but more importantly, a night of voices refusing to be silenced.
